GLASGOW — Barren County became the site of Kentucky’s 44th Safe Haven Baby Box on Wednesday. The safe, anonymous infant surrender option is located at the Glasgow Fire Department Station 1 on South Broadway Street.

The Safe Haven Baby Box is a climate-controlled bassinet where parents can surrender a newborn up to 30 days old in Kentucky.

“The Bible indicates that the right thing to do is to speak up for those who have no voice. And so the reality is that there’s mothers and children who need someone to speak up for them and offer them hope. And we may have mothers who need options, who need viable, safe options. We may have babies who need opportunities. And this provides for both,” said Bart Warren, a minister at South Green Street Church of Christ, at a press conference blessing the baby box on Wednesday.

South Green Street, alongside Pleasant Hill Church of Christ and Coral Street Church of Christ, and retired fire chief William Rock were influential in the process of bringing a Safe Haven Baby Box to Glasgow.

“We’ve been blessed here in this community. We have resources and so because we have resources, we have responsibilities,” Warren said. “We have a community that loves and wants to serve those who have no voice. We have a community that wants to use their resources to help those in need. So for these reasons and more, I’m thankful for the Safe Haven Baby Box…May God bless this endeavor.”

Glasgow Mayor Henry Royce said he felt strongly about the potential of the baby box, and the importance of making it known to the community.

“It is an important part of our community. I can’t imagine what it would be like to be in a situation to be trying to weigh my options but I’m glad that the city of Glasgow, Glasgow fire department, all of our first responders are very much committed to having this available for young mothers in our community.”

“We’ve got to be about taking care of one another,” noted city councilman Terry Bunnell.

A representative with Safe Haven Baby Boxes was onsite Wednesday, and she said the new location is the 274th nationwide.

“This box offers no shame, no blame and no name(s),” she said, concluding the noon press conference.

Learn more about Safe Haven Baby Boxes at www.shbb.org.